We played well no doubt, but as I say for a time, they were superb. They might have scored from dead balls, but some of the play to put the pressure on to draw the fouls was also really good. They've benefitted from a relatively easy start, allowing em all to gel

Luckily that's the only source going with them getting the naming rights. A couple believe there is something in them getting the shirt sponsorship though. £8m for shirt and stadium sponsorship sounds far too meagre.

The Wonga Arena would just be a step too far for a lot of people (especially as many aren't at all happy with the lack of summer incomings), even if it would at least be something the club makes money off. NUFC make nothing from Sports Direct having the stadium naming rights, so in a way you can see why Ashley is in no rush to sell the naming rights off. It's free advertising, the ground itself is covered in Sports Direct logos (top of stands, by the club name, all over the advertising boards, all over the stands, outside the stadium etc).

Not that fussed if Wonga just have shirt sponsorship, although they certainly don't sound like a brand you want to be associated with. Unlike Virgin Money, who are also a Newcastle-based company (née Northern Rock).

There are also rumours that Newcastle's kits will be provided by one of Ashley's many cheap clothing companies. Certainly a downgrade from adidas/Puma whichever way you look at it.

I suppose the difference is the players help win trophies and therefore money for the club or country. A lot less damaging to sack a suit. Same with the fans, if it hurts the club, they probably won't go for it.

Not sure what Samsung could do with the contract. It would be nice if a club had a perfect policy on player behaviour so a sponsor wouldn't have to make a decision on continuing sponsorship when a player does something obscene.

Good match between Villa and Spurs so far. Spurs are not quite as coherent in attack as they can be and that has helped Villa so far. Saying that, the defending from Villa has been very good so far, few wobbles and some really nice playing out form the back. Everyone looks hungry for the ball and have made the right decisions almost every time. So that's promising.

In attack it's been a lot of half chances that have gone awry due to some bad decisions or miscontrol. Happy with things so far but I wouldn't be surprised if there were some goals in this as everyone tires out a bit.

I hate Chelsea, and everything about Chelsea. The fact they are Champs of Europe and have Terry/Cole etal playing for them is the worse thing that could have happend to the prem, or English football.

Scumbag team full of scumbags (actually I do have time for "lamps"). Please god do not let them win anything else. I, as an Englishman do not want Terry or Cole in MY national shirt colours, thankfully Terry never will again,let us hope Cole stands down soon as well.

Those two United goals were badly defended but when you deliver balls like that it makes it hard for the defending team. Really puts in to perspective how Newcastle's inability to take a corner properly is probably going to cost us points in tight games.

nickthegun wrote:
They are stroking it about alright and have a lot of possession but what Liverpool need is a big forward to get the ball to. Someone decent, a 30m+ player would get them scoring again.

But surely they'd also need a £20m winger to deliver the balls to him?